Each year the Reconnect to Opportunity (ReOpp) Back-to-School Resource Fair hands out free school supplies, backpacks, food bags, and more to young people across King County, in partnership with dozens of community organizations.
This August was no different, with the fair distributing a record number of backpacks: 544 to community members.
Families with kids getting ready for preschool all the way through high school attended the fair. A total of 488 community members received resources including school supplies, food bags with fresh produce, and of course, backpacks.
Twenty-seven community partners tabled at this year’s event to connect families to other supports like after-school activities, case management support, and other resources.
ReOpp is a reengagement program, funded by the Best Starts for Kids Initiative, that connects young people ages 16-24 to education and employment resources.
ReOpp launched the Back-to-School Resource Fair in 2020 to ensure families and young people had what they needed to be prepared for school. The resource fair has grown its reach every year.
| Year | Resources Distributed |
| 2021 | 50 backpacks distributed and 260 community members served. |
| 2022 | 200 backpacks distributed and 166 community members served. |
| 2023 | 250 backpacks distributed and 334 community members served. |
| 2024 | 250 backpacks distributed and 466 community members served. |
| 2025 | 410 backpacks distributed and 451 community members served. |
| 2026 | 544 backpacks distributed and 488 community members served. |
| *Note that data was not collected in 2020. | |
This Year the ReOpp Resource Fair Welcomed Special Guest: King County Executive Girmay Zahilay.
Executive Zahilay joined the Resource Fair and connected with young people. He also celebrated the launch of his YouthWorks program, a new workforce development program that brought together seven King County Departments to provide paid summer internships and volunteer opportunities for young people ages 16-24 throughout King County.
